Circular hike around the Letzbergweiher lake – Schönau in the Black Forest

The hike starts at the tourist information office in Schönau (Gentnerstraße 2a, 79677 Schönau im Schwarzwald).

Parking: Free parking is available at the fire station in Schönau (Bifangstraße 1, 79677 Schönau im Schwarzwald)
Public transport stop: Schönau, Zentrum

(S/E) We start our approximately two-hour walk at the tourist information office on Gentnerstraße and walk north towards Kirchgasse. Via Kirchgasse, we reach Hintere Hofmatt, where we turn left and then right onto Kirchbühlstraße, which we follow to the left. Turn right onto Sonnhalde and then right again onto Belchenweg.

(1) From here, a narrow, slightly ascending path leads to the left for approx. 1.5 km towards Aitern. We then turn left onto the wide path, cross it and after approx. 20 m turn right up onto Philosophenweg. On Philosophenweg, philosophical plaques invite you to read and reflect. This section of Philosophenweg is also called Anton-Schelshorn-Weg. We walk to the end of the path, which now descends slightly, and after about 800 metres, we keep half left, staying on Philosophenweg.

(2) A seating area above the Letzbergweiher pond, with a great view of Michelrütte, invites you to linger and rest. After a short break, follow the narrow path for approx. 0.6 km to the end of Philosophenweg. Then keep left uphill and walk along the wide path – past Hasenheim – towards Letzberg.

(3) At the end of the path, we come to another viewpoint, from where we can enjoy the beautiful view of the glacier gorge with the Letzberg sports field and the Black Forest town of Schönau in the background. The path then bends slightly to the right and we keep half-right again until we reach the narrow path to the start of the Philosophenweg.

Shortly afterwards, we cross the sports field, turn left onto the return path around the former Schlageter monument and come back to the path we took on the way there. Once again, we cross the Belchenweg and the Sonnhalde and return to the starting point in Gentnerstraße (S/E).

How
From Freiburg: Take the B31 towards Donaueschingen, exit at Kirchzarten / Oberried / Todtnau. Follow the L126 to Todtnau, then take the B317 towards Lörrach. After 7 km, you will arrive at your destination in Schönau in the Black Forest. At the district court and the Eckert flower meadow, turn left towards Tunau. After 50 m, you will find the car park on the right-hand side.

From Donaueschingen: Take the B31 towards Freiburg, then take the Feldberg/Todtnau exit. Follow the B317 to Schönau in the Black Forest. At the district court and the Eckert flower meadow, turn left towards Tunau. After 50 m, you will find the car park on the right-hand side.

From Lörrach: Take the B317 from Lörrach towards Donaueschingen until you reach Schönau in the Black Forest. At the district court and the Eckert flower meadow, turn right towards Tunau. After 50 metres, you will find the car park on the right-hand side.

Arrival by public transport:
From Freiburg: Take the regional train towards Seebrugg/Neustadt (Schw.), get off at Kirchzarten station, take bus 7215 to Todtnau, change to bus 7300 towards Zell i.W. - get off at Schönau, centre

From Donaueschingen: Take the regional train towards Seebrugg/Neustadt (Schw.), get off at Neustadt station, change to the regional train to Titisee station, then take bus 7300 to the Schönau, Zentrum stop

From Lörrach: Take the S6 regional train towards Zell i. Wiesental, change to bus 7300 towards Titisee - get off at Schönau, centre

Equipment
Sturdy shoes are recommended for all eventualities.

Further
More information about hiking in the Belchen region of the Black Forest can be found here: http://schwarzwaldregion-belchen.de/de/wandern/

🍽️ Places to stop for refreshments:
Hotel-Gasthof Vier Löwen
Talstraße 18
79677 Schönau